Splash-proof cup lid

ABSTRACT

A splash-proof cup lid that includes plural barriers disposed on the undersurface of the cup lid. The barriers are strategically positioned and uniquely configured to prevent liquid from sloshing through the drink opening when the cup is in an upright or slightly tilted position and is bumped or jarred. The barriers however, do not prevent the liquid from flowing through the drink opening when the cup is tilted to a drinking position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application hereby incorporates by reference and claims thepriority of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.60/812,980, filed Jun. 13, 2006, Rick H. Boone inventor and entitledSplash-Proof Cup Lid.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to covers for beveragecontainers. More specifically, the present invention is drawn to a cuplid equipped with a barrier structure that prevents liquids fromsplashing out of the drink opening.

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years the “to-go” or “take-out” food industry has flourishedto blend with the modern “hurry-up” lifestyle. Food and beverages areconstantly being transported from the point of purchase to a place wherethey are consumed. Often transportation is in a vehicle of some sort(car, bus, plane, etc.). Although “take-out” is convenient to theabove-mentioned lifestyle, there is always the nagging concern ofspillage. This is especially true of beverages wherein the splashing andsloshing of liquids (hot or cold) from the drink opening in the cup lidis a frequent and annoying hazard. To remedy this hazard, there havebeen many attempts to design anti-spill devices for cups and glasses,but none have proven entirely satisfactory. Thus a splash-proof lid aspresented herein is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The splash-proof cup lid has a plurality of barriers or baffles disposedon the undersurface of a disposable cup lid. The barriers arestrategically positioned and uniquely configured to prevent liquid fromsloshing through the drink opening when the cup is in an upright orslightly tilted position and is bumped or jarred. The barriers however,do not prevent the liquid from flowing through the drink opening whenthe cup is tilted to a drinking position.

The method of the present invention is to employ the splash-proof cuplid of the present invention. The splash-proof cup lid is a hollowgenerally frusto-conical body having a frusto-conical shaped wall withan upper end and a lower end, a top surface extending across the upperend and a circumferential flange extending downward from the lower end,the circumferential flange being adapted for engaging a lip of abeverage container to form a leakproof snap fit, and the top surface hasan opening defined therein that is adapted for drinking a liquidbeverage from the container. In one embodiment the circumferentialflange of the lid may be secured to a cup by including indentationsadapted to elastically interfere with the lip of a cup.

In the preferred embodiment the top surface forms a ramp extendingdownwardly from the area on the top surface opposite the opening,terminating in a substantially vertical wall adjacent the opening.

A first center barrier member is disposed adjacent the lower end andpositioned directly beneath the beverage opening. Second and thirdbarrier members are positioned below the top surface on either side ofthe opening and the first barrier.

The first center barrier defines a slightly angled, planar surfacepositioned directly under opening that extends in a radial directionfrom the frusto-conical wall surface of the lid and may include beformed to describe a broad or relatively flat V-shape formed from twoplanar surfaces joined at a dihedral angle, with the vertex of the Veesloping radially downward towards the lower end of the frusto-conicalwall.

The second and third barriers extend in a radial direction from thefrusto-conical wall and each presents a generally vertical, planarsurface positioned on either side of the opening. In the preferredembodiment the second and third barriers are slightly tilted towards theopening.

Accordingly the splash-proof cup lid presents a cup lid having no movingparts that can be adapted for conventional, disposable cups of any size.

These and other features of the present invention will become readilyapparent upon further review of the following specification anddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a splash-proof cup lidaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom, perspective view of a splash-proof cup lid accordingto the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a top, perspective view of a splash-proof cup lid according tothe present invention.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistentlythroughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to FIG. 1 the splash-proof lid of the present invention isgenerally indicated at 10. The lid 10 is mounted on a cup 12 (shown indotted lines), which is adapted to contain a beverage of some kind. Aspresently disclosed, the lid 10 will be fabricated from disposableplastic or suitable heavy, biodegradable, cardboard material adapted foruse with disposable beverage containers, or other materials that areapparent to those of skill in the art. However, it is contemplated thatthe lid may be fabricated from other suitable materials and adapted foruse with permanent glass, metal or plastic containers

Further referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, lid 10 comprises a circular flange14, a bottom surface 16 and a top surface 18. Indentations 20 are evenlyspaced around the circumference of the flange 14. Indentations 20 ensurea secure and sealed fit with the lip of a cup 12. The lid 10 has acentral, raised frusto-conical area defined by frusto-conical wallsurface 24 and top surface 18. The frusto-conical body of the lid 10generally extends from a lower end 25 to an upper end 23 of the wallsurface 24 with top surface 18 extending across the upper end 23. Thetop surface 18 has an inclined plane or ramp forming a depression in thefrusto-conical area that deepens approaching the circumference of thelid 10, the ramp terminating in a substantially vertical wall 19. Anopening 22 is disposed in an area of the lid 10 behind the ramp so thata user can drink the beverage therethrough, the coffee exiting the lid10 between the ramp and the peripheral flange 14.

An array of baffles or barriers 30, 32 and 34 are positioned on oradjacent the bottom surface 16 of the lid 10, the baffles may be addedto or formed as part of the lid. A first center barrier 30 defines aslightly angled, planar surface positioned directly under opening 22.Barrier 30 extends in a radial direction from the frusto-conical wallsurface 24 of the lid. Center barrier 30 forms a broad or relativelyflat V-shape, being formed from two planar surfaces joined at a dihedralangle, with the vertex of the Vee sloping radially downward towards thebottom surface 16 of the frusto-conical area as the barrier 30approaches the periphery of the lid 10. Second and third barriers 32 and34 also extend in a radial direction from wall 24 and they presentgenerally vertical, planar surfaces positioned on either side of opening22, which are slightly tilted towards the opening 22. The describedbarrier arrangement effectively helps to prevent any liquid fromsloshing upwardly through opening 22 when the cup is slightly tilted orjarred. When the cup is tilted to a drinking position however, liquidflows freely around the barriers and through opening 22.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to theembodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodimentswithin the scope of the following claims.

1. A splash-proof cup lid, comprising: a hollow frusto-conical bodyhaving a frusto-conical shaped wall with an upper end and a lower end, atop surface extending across the upper end and a circumferential flangeextending downward from the lower end, the circumferential flange beingadapted for engaging a lip of a beverage container to form a leakproofsnap fit, the top surface having an opening defined therein adapted fordrinking beverage from the container; a first center barrier memberdisposed adjacent the lower end and positioned directly beneath theopening; and second and third barrier members below the top surface andpositioned, respectively, on either side of the opening and the firstbarrier.
 2. The splash-proof cup lid according to claim 1 where the topsurface forms a ramp extending downwardly from the area on the topsurface opposite the opening, terminating in a substantially verticalwall adjacent the opening.
 3. The splash-proof cup lid according toclaim 1 where the first center barrier defines a slightly angled, planarsurface positioned directly under opening that extends in a radialdirection from the frusto-conical wall surface of the lid.
 4. Thesplash-proof cup lid according to claim 3 where the first center barrierforms a broad or relatively flat V-shape formed from two planar surfacesjoined at a dihedral angle, with the vertex of the Vee sloping radiallydownward towards the lower end of the frusto-conical wall.
 5. Thesplash-proof cup lid according to claim 1 where the second and thirdbarriers extend in a radial direction from the frusto-conical wall andeach presents a generally vertical, planar surface positioned on eitherside of the opening.
 6. The splash-proof cup lid according to claim 5where the second and third barriers are slightly tilted towards theopening.
 7. The splash-proof cup lid according to claim 1, wherein saidlid is fabricated from a plastic material.
 8. The splash-proof cup lidaccording to claim 1 where the circumferential flange adapted to formthe leakproof snap fit includes indentations adapted to secure the lidto the lip of a cup.
 9. A method for preventing the splashing of abeverage from a cup comprising the steps of: providing a splash-prooflid for a cup comprising a hollow frusto-conical body having afrusto-conical shaped wall with an upper end and a lower end, a topsurface extending across the upper end and a circumferential flangeextending downward from the lower end, the circumferential flange beingadapted for engaging a lip of a beverage container to form a leakproofsnap fit, the top surface having an opening defined therein adapted fordrinking beverage from the container; a first center barrier memberdisposed adjacent the lower end and positioned directly beneath theopening; second and third barrier members below the top surface andpositioned, respectively, on either side of the opening and the firstbarrier; and affixing the lid to a cup containing a beverage.
 10. Themethod for preventing the splashing of a beverage from a cup of claim 9where the top surface forms a ramp extending downwardly from the area onthe top surface opposite the opening, terminating in a substantiallyvertical wall adjacent the opening.
 11. The method for preventing thesplashing of a beverage from a cup of claim 9 where the first centerbarrier defines a slightly angled, planar surface positioned directlyunder opening that extends in a radial direction from the frusto-conicalwall surface of the lid.
 12. The method for preventing the splashing ofa beverage from a cup of claim 11 where the first center barrier forms abroad or relatively flat V-shape formed from two planar surfaces joinedat a dihedral angle, with the vertex of the Vee sloping radiallydownward towards the lower end of the frusto-conical wall.
 13. Themethod for preventing the splashing of a beverage from a cup of claim 9,where the second and third barriers extend in a radial direction fromthe frusto-conical wall and each presents a generally vertical, planarsurface positioned on either side of the opening.
 14. The method forpreventing the splashing of a beverage from a cup of claim 13 where thesecond and third barriers are slightly tilted towards the opening. 15.The method for preventing the splashing of a beverage from a cup ofclaim 9, where the lid is fabricated from a plastic material.
 16. Themethod for preventing the splashing of a beverage from a cup of claim 9where the circumferential flange adapted to form the leakproof snap fitincludes indentations adapted to secure the lid to the lip of a cup.